It is fair to say that Stripe delivered what could be described as revolutionary change when it comes to how its approach and service transformed online payment services. From its smart and streamlined API to a very noticeable tactic of putting developers at the forefront of its approach, Stripe has enjoyed considerable success as a result of its innovative mindset.
Having said all that. This shouldn’t mean that Stripe should be viewed as the default option. There are plenty of viable alternatives to consider, especially when you are looking for a solution that can be scaled at the sort of pace you need for your growing business.
A good example of this would be when reading an Adyen review, for instance. This provider doesn’t seek to simply emulate what Stripe offers, but in a better way. The differences between stripe and viable alternatives such as Adyen are far more nuanced than that. Your aim should be to look at what you need for your business and see how others can expand on the core model and deliver the sort of solutions that you specifically need.
If you want to scale your business model on your own terms, here’s a look at how you might achieve that aim by expanding your horizons and looking beyond Stripe. All of these alternatives offer the sort of broad payment processing capabilities you need together with more individualistic qualities. Here’s some key rivals to consider and what they offer.
Square
Its iconic white card reader proved to be a game-changer. Since that pivotal moment, Square has evolved into an impressive wide-ranging commerce ecosystem.
What Square does particularly well is to combine the physical and digital payment worlds seamlessly. If you need a unified commerce platform that provides an effective conduit between online and offline sales, Square is worth considering.
Adyen
If your business has global sales ambitions Adyen could prove to be a good choice, and a viable alternative to Stripe on that score.
The power of its unified system is abundantly evident when you discover that you can get a real-time view of customer behavior and all of your online, in-store, and mobile payment data all on one dashboard.
Amazon Pay
Many of us have first-hand experience of how powerful and intuitive the checkout experience is when purchasing something using the Amazon website. What Amazon Pay aims to do is replicate the power of that positive checkout experience and encourage greater conversion rates as a result of this familiarity.
Although this could deliver a faster checkout experience in some cases, it is worth pointing out that Amazon Pay is more of an add-on payment option rather than a complete solution.
Payoneer
If you are seeking a global payment solution using Payoneer is an option to consider. This provider has made its mark by specializing in cross-border payments, something that is understandably popular with anyone that operates an international business.
You should not view Payoneer as a direct replacement or a complete solution. Its checkout services are more binary than dedicated payment gateways. Payoneer’s strength lies in how easy it is to receive international payments, allowing you to receive funds in local currencies.
Helcim
This payment processing provider definitely punches above its weight. It has grabbed a slice of the market through its niche solutions and a clear policy of transparency. If you are a cost-conscious merchant Helcim may well be on your radar, as its pricing model is designed to appeal to small business owners.
As well as knowing the true cost of each transaction, thanks to its honest pricing strategy, another popular feature is the fact that the cost of each transaction reduces in accordance with sales growth. In other words, the more you sell, the less you pay for processing that payment.
PayPal
This provider doesn’t need much of an introduction. Although that familiarity could encourage you to go with the flow and choose PayPal as the go-to alternative to Stripe it should be pointed out that there’s a drawback to taking the easy option.
The general consensus is that PayPal’s developer infrastructure has a distinctly dated feel to it. If you are seeking a sophisticated alternative to Stripe, PayPal doesn’t really fit the bill. If simplicity and familiarity are key requisites, then it merits consideration.
UniBee
If you feel that your business has outgrown basic payment processing solutions but don’t fancy the challenge of building your own bespoke billing system from scratch, UniBee has to be a contender.
A fundamental reason why UniBee warrants your attention is that it successfully integrates with many payment gateways, including Stripe, but gives you a lot more options when it comes to building a payment stack that truly matches your specific needs.
Paddle
This payment and billing solution is designed to offer a comprehensive range of services and features, enough to consider as your primary choice for a single, integrated platform.
A big selling point is its ability to help you reduce your compliance burden significantly. However, a downside is that you don’t get the same level of control with regard to handling the customer payment relationship, especially compared to Stripe.
FastSpring
This is a dedicated e-commerce suite that is designed to be installed as a one-time deal. The idea is that you set it up and simply enjoy a seamless experience that requires minimal adjustment going forward.
FastSpring enjoys a good reputation for delivering storefronts that are easily customizable, and for encouraging improved one-click upsell flows.
Gumroad
If you are looking for a minimalist payment processing solution, Gumroad is one to consider.
The pricing model is a simple flat fee, and there are no monthly subscriptions or hidden costs to think about. As you might expect with such a level of simplicity in its approach, what you see is what you get. That means you can’t develop the software to suit your needs in the same way as Stripe allows you to.
The marketplace for payment solutions continues to mature and evolve. That means there’s already plenty of avenues to explore and options to consider, rather than simply falling into line and going with Stripe.
However, as you can see from the information provided, discussing viable alternatives to Stripe is not exactly black or white. Some of the providers highlighted offer the ability to switch completely, but other options should be viewed more as add-ons rather than alternatives.
One thing for certain is that you should be able to find a payment processing solution that meets your needs.
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